Cushioning pedestal



1942- H. M. RADKE CUSHIONING PEDESTAL Filed July 10, 1940 I 1 grvuc/wbob HMPA 0K5 Maw Patented Oct. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUSHIONING PEDESTAL Hugo Max Radke, Tacoma, Wash. Application July 1940, Serial No. 244,787

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a cushioning pedestal, of the dash-pot type for use in connection with chair seats.

The invention aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pedestal of the class referred possessin the characteristics of a shock absorber and further constituting a support; for a chair seat.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pedestal of the type referred providing a cushioning support for a chair seat.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pedestal of the class referred to including spring controlled means permitting of the chair seat to be partly revolved from and automatically returned to normal when the pedestal is disposed in supporting relation with respect to the chair.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, apedestal for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, automatic in its action, readily installed with respect to a chair seat, thoroughly efficient when used, affording comfort to the user of a chair, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically described and. illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View on lin of Figure 2, of a cushionin pedestal, in accordance with this invention showing the adaptation thereof with respect to a chair seat, and

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawing, a chair is generally indicated at 5, and as shown it includes a seat 6, a back and a cushion 8 disposed on the seat 6. The latter has its lower face formed with means for securing it to the upper end of the pedestal 9. The said means is shown by way of example as consisting of a plate Ill formed centrally with a threaded opening II. The plate II] is anchored against the lower face of the seat 6 by the holdfast means I2. It is to be understood that the means aforesaid may be a permanent part of the pedestal and secured to the chair.

The pedestal 9 is of what may be termed of the telescopic form and it includes a vertical disposed cylinder l3 of the desired height and inner diameter. There is correlated with the cylinder |3 an upper and a lower head l4, l5, respectively, for closing the cylinder ends. The head I4 is of less diameter than the head l5 and it is formed of a circular disc |6 provided with a laterally extended annular flange ll of less thickness than and has its upper face flush with the upper face of disc Hi. The outer diameter of the flange corresponds to the outer diameter of cylinder l3. Th disc It extends into the upper end of cylinder l3 and is secured to the inner face of the latter, by pressing, sweating or in any other suitable manner to form an air tight joint. When the disc I6 is secured within the upper end of cylinder l3, the flange l1 seats on the top edge l8 of said cylinder. The head M is formed with an axial opening i9 having the upper end of its wall rabbeted, as at 2|].

Integral with or otherwise secured to the lower face of the head I4 is a depending guide sleeve 2| having its inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the lower end of opening I 9. The inner face of sleeve 2| forms a flush downward continuation of the wall of opening I9. The lower end of the sleeve 2| is formed with an internal rabbet as at 22. Mounted in the rabbet 20 and depending through the opening l9 into the sleeve 2| is a flanged bushing 23, and seated in the rabbet 22 and extending upwardly in sleeve 2| is a flanged bushing 24.

Secured to the lower face of the head l4 and surrounding and disposed in spaced relation with respect to the upper end of sleeve 2| is a set of equally spaced depending couplers 25 four in number. Surrounding and disposed in spaced relation with respect to the lower end of sleeve 2| is a set of equally spaced upstanding couplers 26, four in-number, aligned with the couplers 25.

The lower head i5 is formed of a circular disc 21 provided with a laterally extended annular flange 28 of greater diameter than the outer diameter of the cylinder 3. The flange 28 is of less thickness than and has its lower face flush with the lower face of disc 21. The latter extends up into the lower end of cylinder I3 and is secured to the inner face of the latter by pressing, sweating or in any other suitable manner to form an air tight joint. When the disc 2! is secured to the cylinder l3, the flange 28 seats against and extends laterally from the bottom,

edge 29 of cylinder I3. The disc 21 is formed axially thereof with an opening 30. The flange 28 is provided with spaced openings 3| for the passage of countersunk holdfast devices 32 for securing the pedestal upon the floor or base 33.

Operating in the cylinder I3 is a vertically movable piston 34 of disc-like form provided with a circumferential groove 35 to form superposed outer edge portions 36 which have a close sliding fit with the lubricated inner face of the cylinder I3. The piston 34 between its axis and ed e portions 38 is formed with a fluid port or passage 31. termed a lubricant carrier. The piston 34 axially thereof is formed with an opening 38. P- sitioned upon the top of the piston 34 and extended from the upper edge portion 36 is a leather gasket 39 held in place by a flat steel ring 40- which is secured to the piston 34 by the holdfast means 4!. The couplers 26 are secured to the top of the piston 34 adjacent the opening 38 in the latter. That portion of the cylinder I3 be- The groove 35 constitutes what may be.

tween the piston 34 and the lower head I5. forms a substantially air tight chamber 42.

The pedestal consists of a stationary section provided by the cylinder I3 and a vertically movable section disposed in telescopic relation with respect to the cylinder I3 including the piston 34 and a seat sustaining standard 42 consisting of a bar or rod 43 of circular cross section having a reduced threaded upper end 44 for connection to the plate It] and a reduced threaded lower end 45 for passage through the opening 38. At the point of mergence of the said end 44 with the body of bar 43, a shoulder 46 is formed and a which supports the plate I0. At the point of mergence of the said end 45 with the body of bar 43, a shoulder 41 is formed which bears against the upper face of piston 34.

Interposed between the disc I6 and the piston 34 is a set of spaced vertically disposed shock absorbing springs 48 of helical form which are connected at their upper ends to the couplers and at their lower ends to the couplers 26. These springs will be such that they are capable of sustaining at least 200 pounds weight.

The reduced end of the bar 43 is connected to the piston 34 by a coupling means 49 bearing against the lower face of the piston. The means 49 further connects to the lower face of the piston 34 the upper end of a spiral spring 50. The latter has its lower end secured to the lower head I4 and for such purpose an apertured plate 5| and a holdfast means 52 are employed. The plate 5i is mounted on the lower end of sprin 50 above disc 2'! and the means 52 extends upwardly through the opening 30 in the disc 2'! and through plate El and engages the upper face of the latter. The spring 50 is a compression spring and capable of sustaining at least 150 pounds weight.

The springs 48 function to return the chair to its original normal position after it has been shifted a part revolution from such position.

The port or passage in the piston permits of the passage of fluid in limited quantities as the piston descends with the Weight on it and when drawn up by the helical springs. These latter act as shock absorbing means when weight is applied to the chair.

The helical springs and the fluid compression prevent any sudden loweringof the standard, but provides for a gradual and gentle lowering. action. The compression spring gently resists any overload on the standard.

Although the pedestal is designed primarily for use in connection with chairs, yet it is to be understood that a cushioning pedestal, in accordance with this invention is for employment for any purpose for which it may be found applicable.

What I claim is:

1. In a cushioning pedestal for an object, an upstanding cylinder, upper and lower closure heads for the ends of and secured to said cylinder, a vertically slidable piston structure operating within and having a close sliding fit with the inner face of the cylinder, a vertically movable standard for connection at its upper end to and for suspending the object, said standard extending through said upper head, bearing on the upper face of and having a reduced lower end extending through said piston structure, a set of upstanding spaced helical springs within the cylinder secured at their upper ends with the inner face of said upper head and secured at their lower ends with the upper face of said piston structure, means on the lower end of said standard and abutting the lower face of the piston structure for connecting said standard to said piston structure, an upstanding compression spring within and disposed centrally of the lower portion of the cylinder and having its upper end connected by said means to the lower face of said piston structure, means for connecting the lower end of the compression spring to and centrally of the upper face of the lower closure head, and saidpiston structure being formed with a fluid passage adjacent its axis, vertically disposed stationary guide means surrounded by said helical springs, provided with upper and lower bearings for said standard.

2. In a cushioning pedestal for an object, an upstanding cylinder, upper and lower closure heads for the ends of and secured to said cylinder, a vertically slidable piston structure operating within and having a close sliding fit with the inner face of the cylinder, a vertically movable standard for connection at its. upper end to and for suspending the object, said standard extending through said upper head, bearing on the upper face of and having a reduced lower end extending through said piston structure, a set of upstanding spaced helical springs Within the cylinder secured at their upper ends to the inner face-of said upper head and secured at their lower ends to the upper face of said piston structure, means on the lower endofsaid standard and abutting the lower face of the piston structure for connecting said standard to said piston structure, an upstanding compression spring within and disposed centrally of the lower portion of the cylinder and having its upper end connected by said means to the-lower face of said piston structure, means for connecting the lower end of the compression spring to and centrally of the upper face of. the lower closure head, said piston structure being formed with a fluid passage laterallyspacedfrom its axis, and. vertically disposed; stationaryv guide means surrounded by said helicalsprings provided with upper and lower bearings, for said'standard, said guide means including avertical sleeve fixed, at its upper end to the lower; side of said upper head and normallybearing at its lower end against the top of the piston structure.

3. In a cushioningpeclestal for the purpose set forth, a vertical cylinder having upper and lower closure heads therefor, a vertically slidable piston structure within and having a snug sliding contact with the inner face of said cylinder, a vertically movable supporting standard extending through said upper head and having a reduced lower end portion arranged axially of said structure, a set of spaced vertically disposed helical springs interposed between said upper head and said structure, means for coupling the upper ends of said springs with the lower face of the upper head, means for coupling the lower ends of said springs with the upper face of said structure, the said means being fixed to said upper head and structure, a compression spring disposed centrally of the lower portion of said cylinder and interposed between said structure and lower head, means for connecting the lower end of the compression spring on the upper face of said lower head, means for connecting the upper end of the compression spring to the lower face of the lower end of said structure and for connecting said standard to said structure, and said structure being formed with a fluid passage, vertically disposed stationary guide means surrounded by said helical springs, provided with upper and lower bearings for said standard.

4. In a cushioning pedestal, an upstanding stationary cylinder having upper and lower heads and an axial opening in the upper head, a vertically slidable snug fitting piston structure in said cylinder and including a grooved edge, an axial opening, a fluid by-pass and a packing, a vertically movable standard operating through the opening in said upper head, seated on the upper face of said structure and formed with a reduced lower end portion extending through the axial opening in said structure, spaced vertical helical springs within the upper portion of the cylinder, independent means for securing the upper end of each spring to the lower face of said upper head, independent means for securing the lower end of each spring to the upper face of the piston structure, a spiral compression spring arranged between and disposed centrally with respect to the lower face of said structure and upper face of said lower head, means connected to the reduced lower end of said standard and the upper end of the compression spring and cooperating with the lower face of said structure for securing the compression spring and the standard to said structure, and means for securing the lower end of the compression spring to the upper face of said lower head, vertically disposed stationary guide means fixed to said upper head surrounded by said helical springs, provided with upper and lower bearings for said standard.

5. In a cushioning pedestal for the purpose set forth, a vertical cylinder having upper and lower closure heads therefor, a vertically slidable piston structure within and having a snug sliding contact with the inner face of said cylinder, a Vertically movable supporting standard extending through said upper head and having a reduced lower end portion arranged axially of said structure, a set of spaced vertically disposed helical springs interposed between said upper head and said structure, means for coupling the upper ends of said springs with the lower face of the upper head, means for coupling the lower ends of said springs with the upper face of said structure, these said means being fixed to said upper head and structure respectively, a compression spring disposed centrally of the lower portion of said cylinder and interposed between said structure and lower head, means for connecting the lower end of the compression spring on the upper face of said lower head, means for connecting the upper end of the compression spring to the lower face of said structure and for connecting the lower end of said standard to said structure, said structure being formed with a fluid passage, and a stationary guide means for said standard, surrounded by said helical springs, interposed between said upper head and said structure, said guide means being fixed to said upper head and normally bearing on said structure.

6. In a cushioning pedestal for the purpose set forth, a cylinder, upper and lower closure heads fixed to the cylinder, a vertically movable supporting standard extending through the upper head into the cylinder, a vertically slidable piston structure connected to the lower end of the standard and formed with a fluid by-p'ass, u-pstanding resilient shock-absorbing springs within the upper portion of the cylinder secured at their upper ends to the lower face of said upper head, at circumferentially spaced points about said standard, and secured at their lower ends to the upper face of said piston structure, at circumferentially spaced points about the axis of said piston structure, and an upstanding resilient overload resisting spring arranged centrally of the lower portion of the cylinder secured at its upper end to the central portion of the lower face of said structure and at its lower end to the centrol portion of the upper face of said lower head, and vertically disposed stationary guide means surrounded by said helical springs, provided with upper and lower bearings for said standard.

HUGO MAX RADKE. 

